The Story of Santa Barbara
Experience the Museum’s signature exhibit which traces our compelling history of “The American Riviera” from the days of the Chumash … READ MORE
Permanent Exhibitions
Native American Civilizations
The first human inhabitants of the Santa Barbara area were the Chumash, estimated to have settled in this region over … READ MORE
Saint Barbara Legend
According to tradition, Barbara lived in Asia Minor in the third century CE, daughter of a prominent Roman citizen. Converting … READ MORE
Spanish Settlement
The first Europeans to settle in this region were the Spanish with the founding of the Santa Barbara Presidio in … READ MORE
The Arts Movement
Beginning in the last quarter of the 19th century, Santa Barbara developed into the most important art colony between San … READ MORE
A New Century
Santa Barbara became the center of the movie-making world when the Chicago-based American Film Manufacturing Company opened the largest production … READ MORE
Paradise in the 19th. Century
On April 25, 1908, Santa Barbara welcomed the Great White Fleet and it’s estimated fifteen thousand sailors with a tremendous … READ MORE
Chinatown & California Statehood
Santa Barbara, like many California cities, once had a Chinatown. Beginning in the 1850s, Chinese immigrants began arriving in Santa … READ MORE
Santa Barbara under Mexican Rule
With Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821, Alta California came under Mexican rule. Arguably two of the most important results … READ MORE
De la Guerra Family
Spanish native Don José de la Guerra y Noriega (1779-1858) was the founding patriarch of the family in this country. … READ MORE